When the Sky Falls

A carefree rain god and his loyal companion, a dragon who wished to be human, have their peaceful morning interrupted by a blazing phoenix.

  • Caroline Ho
    Director
  • Caroline Ho
    Writer
  • Yimeng Wang
    Producer
  • Rowan Lin
    Composer
  • Thomas Wu
    Sound Design
  • Caroline Ho
    Lead Animator
  • Jennifer Sun
    Clean Up Assistant
  • Karen Herwono
    Clean Up Assistant
  • L Wilson
    Clean Up Assistant
  • Maria Zhao
    Clean Up Assistant
  • Adela Hurtado
    Color Assistant
  • Eleanor Perks
    Color Assistant
  • Helena Ho
    Color Assistant
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Xianxia, Fantasy
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 9, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - New York University
Director Biography - Caroline Ho

Caroline Ho is a Chinese American animator from the Bay Area currently studying in New York. As a fan of East Asian web novels, this film takes heavy inspiration from a certain type of Chinese fantasy that has driven their artistic passion for several years.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When I first began creating and pitching this project I always had a lot of worries about how a story very familiar to anyone who grew up with Chinese dramas would be received by a more Western audience. There were barriers I needed to cross to ensure my intent was properly understood while also hoping that this sort of story wouldn't be 'cringe' when made by a Chinese American. Surely a majority of people who view this film will be unable to grasp the entirety of what is happening, but they can still indulge in the wonderful visuals and feel a sense of tension.